Today is the shortest day in the northern hemisphere. The winter solstice takes place at 5.11 pm today.
Please have your gongs, whistles and drums at the ready for the moment.
Photo credit – Andreas Krappweis
Tim Daplyn – says that the Indaba process is not a normative process but something which means many things to many people. We have no rules of procedure. Asks if the feedback from Indaba will be incorporated into synod. is is canonical. Indaba was designed for African situation not our own.
Chris Mayo – history is replete with turning points. We are at a turning point. Covenant process is laiden with emotion. People making up their minds at an early stage. Some see it as taking away our identity. Others see it as essential in a chaning environment. Question today is about moving on the journey. Thinks it would be abbrogation of responsibility to turn down this motion. We have a voice the punches far above our weight to communion.
I speak and ask for material for dioceses to consider which puts a different position to that put by the Anglican Comminion Office.
Grant Swain speaks in favour of the covenant and says that we would be left out in the cold by refusing to sign. Says that we must be there. But, our strength lies in being undecided. He supports the motion and says that we must sign the Covenant so we can mediate between extremists both in and outside our church. Talk is needed. But we need to be
Lawrie Scrimgeour – asks since Independence is on the agenda, in this motion we are talking about Independence. Has the faith and order board considered a referendum on the question of the Covenant.
Anne Pankhurst – notes that the Faith and Order Board say that there could be other processes. She says that we could end up with a Canon which was very difficult to change. She asks for further enlightenment.
Bishop of Glasgow (Acting Convener) responds: Synod does seem to have the capacity to decide to adopt the process outlined. Responds to my suggestion by saying that he will take those views back to Faith and Order Board. He says that the Process itself takes no view on the Covenant. Synod is the only legally competent body to decided it. A referendum has not been considered and he believes it would not be canonical. Faith and Order Board has considered the posibility of remaining undecided.
Bishop of Argyll says that Indaba process is a way of giving everyone a voice in a transparent way. We are trying to talk this year and explore the issues in depth. Next year a canonical process. Everyone will see everything that has been said in the Indaba process. The process is no in camera or in committee but a way of giving everyone a voice.
Motion is carried – I think about 12 – 15 people voted against and 1 or 2 abstentions. So, we have a process for considering the Covenant.
Up to Aberdeen today for the consecration of Bishop Robert of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. As he is almost universally known as Bob, “Bishop Robert” does not roll off the tongue terribly easily. I was met outside the Cathedral by the Dean of the Diocese who gave me strict instructions that once the…
I suppose you could say that it has been a busy week on the bridge of my nose. From the top, you can see: The glasses that I started with. (Used to be chic) The new retro-tech look for daywear and work. (Chic) The new party glasses. (My goodness how chic is that…
To Pacific Quay yesterday for the opening of the new BBC building. I was not actually opening it, you understand, merely there to witness the Prime Minister do so. It had not been generally known that the PM was going to be there, but I was alerted to the fact that something was going on…
In mild frustration at my new prescription swimming goggles arriving on an afternoon when the pond is designated as women only, I turned to matters of information technology. Now for some time, the computer has been held together with bits of string inside, to which blu-tac was added recently. Indeed, it had getting so hot…
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